Apple has been offering various upgrades to the iPhone, and with each successive release, the company aims to offer hardware that can bolster software updates for several years. Over the years, the overall iPhone experience has been streamlined, which means users do not need to upgrade to the latest model every year. It was previously noted that users have been keeping their iPhones for more than 2 years, and it makes sense for them to do so as every successive release only offers marginal upgrades.
However, it appears that this trend is reversing its course as the iPhone upgrade cycle has been getting shorter again, and we believe that Apple Intelligence, along with a few other factors, could be the reason why.
iPhone upgrades are getting shorter after years, but Apple's financial performance suggests declining sales
According to new research conducted by CIRP, it is reported that iPhone users are now upgrading their devices at a slightly faster rate than before, reversing the years-long trend of a longer upgrade cycle. Based on the data collected until December 2024, more users retired their iPhones earlier than the previous years. Statistically, 36 percent of users who bought a new iPhone during the time period used their older iPhone for 2 years or less. Previously, 31 percent of users were inclined to upgrade to the newer model during the same quarter in the previous year. Moreover, 33 percent of users kept their previous iPhone for at least 3 years.
This is a notable shift from past trends of the iPhone upgrade cycle, and the deviation could be due to many reasons. The research firm states that the iPhone upgrade cycle is now at the same level as in 2020, when users would upgrade their iPhones after every two years. While the report cites that carrier promotions and incentives are among the reasons why this has happened, Apple also introduced another feature that could have possibly made people change their minds.
Apple Intelligence was released to the public in September of last year, and the company is gradually rolling out more features. The company's suite of AI features is only available on the latest iPhone models, starting from the iPhone 15 Pro models. This means anyone who wants to use Apple Intelligence must have an iPhone 15 Pro or any model of the iPhone 16. This could have given people the push they were expecting to upgrade to the latest models.
However, we also have to take note that Apple's financial performance reflects a different story, as iPhone sales have been on a decline. This could mean that users who are upgrading to the latest models might be the ones corresponding instead of the casual users. While there are numerous reasons for this, Apple Intelligence appears to be the main one causing a deviation in the iPhone upgrade cycle. We will share more details on the matter as soon as further information is available.
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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